Chapter 0019
Aldo
My fingers tightened on the gun lowered at my side. I knew she spoke the truth—there was still a reckoning to be had, consequences for my actions. Debts that would certainly be paid in blood.
“I bet,” Aurora continued, probably noticing the tension in my jaw, “they’ll be coming to talk to you soon. But they won’t make peace. You know that.”
“Peace?” I snorted. “Of course not. There’s no peace with the Moretti family.” Never had been, never would be. Of this much, I knew. As long as the Marcello family reigned over New York, The Moretti family would attempt to undermine us at every turn.
“You’ve drawn attention to her,” Aurora
murmured. She turned away from me, cast her gaze across the room to the bullet–riddled target. “She’s lost her life because of you, Aldo, you know that? This is all your fault.”
“Don’t remind me.” I strode past her, tucking my gun away as I left the range behind. Any semblance of calm I’d managed to find was gone.
“I could help to solve this problem.” Aurora fell into stride beside me. “Take her out of the
Spotlight.”
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Chapter 0019
My teeth clenched hard enough to hurt. I knew exactly what she referred to. She’d only ever wanted one thing from me.
“I could give you an heir,” she said, voicing the thoughts in both our minds. “That would solve Layla’s problem. Get Moretti off her. Calm any discontent in the Marcello family, too.”
Once again, she wasn’t wrong. An heir would firmly cement my place at the head of the family. Would cease any talks of a coup. Would surely take Layla out of Moretti’s crosshairs.
My footsteps echoed in the empty hallway as I paced through the house. Towards my room. Aurora still at my side—her thoughts, clearly, focused. “ One night, that’s all it would take.”
For the past eight years, I’d resisted her. Hadn’t so much as touched her, aside from a chaste kiss here and there, for the sake of appearances. As Don of the Marcello family, I hardly had the time or the energy for such affairs anyway.
Though more importantly, we both knew, I had no interest in them.
But tonight, I didn’t gently chastise her. Send her to her room before we reached mine. Because she was right … and I knew it.
I needed an heir.
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My time was running out. The family’s patience was running out. Moretti’s attacks were becoming more frequent and more focused. But an heir?
And heir would solve so many problems.
And Aurora was right. She could give me that heir. Could give me what I so desperately needed–even if it was hardly what I wanted. She was my best option. My only option, really.
I trusted no one else.
I paused at the door to my borrowed room. Hand on the knob and Aurora at my side. Where she’d always been, since we were children. Always, I’d trusted her, relied on her.
Always, she’d been willing to do whatever I needed, whatever I asked of her. And she’d asked for so little
in return.
I set my hand on the knob. Aurora’s warm body lined mine. For one night, I could pretend, couldn’t I? The brass felt cold beneath my fingers.
Layla and I.. our lives had so long ago diverged. We were nothing, not anymore. My fingers tightened on the knob.
“Come inside, Aurora,” I said, speaking words I’d never imagined I might say. Words I needed to say. Hated to say. “Just for the night.”
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Chapter 0019
She followed me into the room.
I made for the decanter of whiskey on the far wall, poured myself a glass as she undressed by the bed. Tossed it back in one shot, prayed for calm to reach
- me.
I could do this. I needed to do this.
I tossed back a second glass.
And then I turned to face Aurora. The beautiful woman standing stark naked in the center of my room. She was, undeniably, perfection. From the length of her legs and curve of her hips to the roundness of her breasts, the fullness of her rose- red lips, perfection.
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